“Milo is masterful but corrupt, parlaying his position as mess officer (in charge of the dining hall) into personal direction of M & M Enterprises, controlling all sorts of goods and services, from fresh eggs to prostitutes. Before long, his business is international; planes arrive daily from such markets as Liberia, London, and Karachi. He deals with everyone except the Russians, eschewing their trade because they are Communists. Nonetheless, he has no problem doing business with America’s primary European enemy, Nazi Germany. Milo even profits from specific battles. When the Allies plan to bomb a highway bridge at Orvieto, Milo arranges to conduct the attack for them. But he also agrees with the Germans to defend the same bridge with antiaircraft fire, bargaining for cost plus six percent from each side, plus a “merit bonus” of $1,000 from the Germans for each plane shot down. Having arranged all the details, Milo has no trouble convincing both sides to furnish their own men and equipment. He thus makes a nice profit by signing his name twice.”

This was the strangest “museum” I’ve ever been to. And really, it’s worth a visit if you go on a free day. As other reviewers have mentioned, it should really be categorized as a gallery because most of the pieces are done by one man. The placards are hilarious. Instead of saying “Tiger in bamboo – Oil on canvas – 1993″, it will say something like “The Master has expertly crafted this piece and is the best work to have ever captured the grace of this animal. His Holiness has magnificent talent….”. It’s like a paragraph about how great he is without any mention of the materials used. I have some suggestions to make this place better. 1) call the upper floors a gallery 2) turn the ground floor forest/fireplace area into a bar 3) let people climb in the tree house.

Rupert B:

Actual artist’s note: “The external appearance of this stone is too beautiful to be absorbed all at once … In creating this wondrous art form, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has opened an entirely new epoch in the history of art in the world.” This whole shoddy enterprise seems to be one giant vanity project by a self-styled “spiritual” guru. If you do trail around this vast collection of mediocre pastiche, then at least embrace the comedy value and read the item descriptions. But make sure you don’t get waylaid by one of the dead-eyed volunteers who will ask you to describe your experience. The whiff of the cult is strong in this one.

And check out the crest they’re using – that’s the same one that was on the green blazers of the security guards as they ejected me from the joint on Opening Day a bit more than a year ago. Good times: